New way to weigh a white dwarf: Use Hubble Space Telescope

New way to weigh a white dwarf: Use Hubble Space Telescope 06/15/2017 02:30 PM EDT For the first time, astronomers have used a novel method to determine the mass of a type of star known as a "white dwarf"--the shrunken corpse of a dead star that used to be like our sun. The achievement, made with the Hubble Space Telescope, is described as a wonderful confirmation of theoretical predictions, and a beautiful reprise of the Einstein solar eclipse observations of a century ago. Full story at http://news.psu.edu/story/471304/2017/06/08/research/new-way-weigh-white-dwarf-use-hubble-space-telescope Source The Pennsylvania State University This is an NSF News From the Field item.   Follow NSF:  This email was sent using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: National Science Foundation Update · 4201 Wilson Boulevard · Arlington, VA 22230 · 703-292-5111